On June 29, 2010 the Italy Independent School District was awarded an incentive check from Oncor’s Take A Load Off, Texas Educational Facilities Program (EFP). The district received $3,024.00 for upgrading the energy efficiency of the air conditioning systems at Stafford Elementary and Italy High School.

In addition to financial incentives, the EFP provided no-cost technical assistance to ensure the new systems offered maximum efficiency. The air conditioning equipment installed by Italy ISD will save about 21,175 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, equivalent to preventing the carbon dioxide emissions of more than 1,710 gallons of gasoline, according to Environmental Protection Agency calculations.

“The Educational Facilities Program has helped our school and our community by saving taxpayer dollars and improving district facilities,” Jimmie Malone, Superintendent. “It’s important that we set a positive example for our students, and reducing our energy use is a critical step.”

The EFP worked with the district to involve personnel from all departments in the decision making process so that everyone understood the financial benefits of investing in the projects. Malone stated that this aspect of the program is “vital because it guarantees that the financial decision makers understand the long – term advantages of utilizing the equipment and therefore can justify investing in energy efficiency upgrades.”

“We identified a real need for an energy efficiency program that specifically targets schools, especially as budgets are spread thin,” said Paul Hernandez, Oncor Area manager. “By partnering with schools to reduce energy costs, these valuable saved resources can be used for other needed projects.”

Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC (Oncor) is a regulated electric distribution and transmission business that uses superior asset management skills to provide reliable electricity delivery to consumers. Oncor operates the largest distribution and transmission system in Texas, delivering power to approximately 3 million homes and businesses and operating approximately 117,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines in Texas. While Oncor is owned by a limited number of investors (including majority owner, Energy Future Holdings Corp.), Oncor is managed by its Board of Directors, which is comprised of a majority of independent directors.